What happens to the ash from the power station?
The ash that collects in the boiler hearths is removed by the Electrostatic Precipitators and is washed into a large ash collection pit. This ash slurry (contains two to four per cent ash plus water) is pumped into the Loy Yang Ash Pond. The ash is settled out in perched ash ponds located at the western end of the main ash pond. The water, that is very saline – one third as salty as seawater – carries through to the east end of the ash pond where it is recirculated back to the power station to again form ash slurry. The excess saline water is pumped to Bass Strait at McGauran’s Beach. The ash that is trapped in the west-end of the ash pond is excavated each year using 40 tonne hydraulic excavators and 20 tonne dump trucks. The ash is dumped into clay lined areas of the overburden dump. The present dump site is constructing the foundation for the next overburden level when the travelling stacker and conveyor system will be raised by approximately 20 metres. Although Loy Yang coal is ver
